Triumvirates - Troikas

From My Perspective - - -

The Troika comes from the Russian Language and History and means: “a threesome; a collection of three of any kind (except the Holy Trinity)…" In particular, the word and concept had particular relevance during the years of Joseph Stalin who had a Commission of Three to carry out the rapid prosecution and persecution of dissidents or anybody accused of political crimes in the Soviet Union. This gave rise to the Triumvirate Concept of rule by three powerful leaders. The History of Triumvirate Rule is Ancient. For instance, what modern scholars call the First Triumvirate was an informal political alliance of two rival generals, Julius Caesar and Pompey the Great representing the popular viz. senatorial party, with the extremely wealthy businessman Marcus Licinius Crassus. This fell apart after the death of Crassus, and the two other triumvirs fought a civil war, during which Pompey was killed and Caesar established his sole rule as perpetual dictator. The Second Triumvirate was a formal governing body, consisting of Octavian and Mark Antony, the rivals for real power, and third wheel Marcus Aemilius Lepidus. Lepidus was sidelined early on in the triumvirate, and Antony was eliminated in a civil war, leaving Octavian as the sole leader.

In Russia, the beginnings of modern Troika Rule was seen in 1917. The Bolsheviks, a network of communists headed by Vladimir Ilyich Lenin and inspired by the writings of Karl Marx and Fredrick Engels, are opposed to the Provisional Government's plan to establish a bourgeois democracy in Russia. They seize government in a coup d'état staged on 6 November, the so-called 'Bolshevik Revolution'. Later a notable step was taken in July 1937 – NKVD Order # 00447 – regarding repression of former criminals, and other anti-Soviet elements. Troikas were established and investigations were done by operative groups in a speedy and simplified way with the results delivered to Troikas for trials. The Troika usually consisted of The People’s Commissar, The Chief Prosecutor of the Republic, and The Communist Party Secretary….

A greater concern is the future of the United States of America. If the prognosticators are correct, and the predictions come to pass, this nation will have a powerful ruling body (Democratic) all from one persuasion and with the same agenda. The Triumvirate-Troika would be (1) The President, (2) The House Speaker, and (3) The Senate Majority Leader. If the projected “landslide” occurs and the House and Senate gain filibuster-proof majorities, The Agenda of Change will proceed at break-neck speed. During the years of 2004-2006, we had this same type of one-party rule (Republican). The hew and cry then by the now House Speaker was it had allowed for a “Culture of Corruption”… Sadly, it did. The promise of restricted government and rolling back the Bureaucracy was a dismal failure. Instead, the Republican Control and absolute Republican majority did nothing. No egregious legislation was repealed. The welfare state was not rolled back an inch. No federal programs or departments were eliminated. No budgets were cut. In fact, legislation got worse (the USA PATRIOT Act), the welfare state was strengthened (a new prescription drug plan), and a new federal department was created (Homeland Security). Change of Party will not eliminate the “Culture of Corruption”!

Consider these things with me - - - and remember the needed spiritual dimension that the Russians so tragically removed as an Atheistic choice. The Holy Trinity – Father, Son, Holy Spirit – are vital in terms of the whole individual – spirit, soul, body. In I Thessalonians 5:23, the prayer offered was: “Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until that day when our Lord Jesus Christ comes again.” This is vital regardless of who becomes the governing authority. The words of Jeremiah 17:8-9 must also be noted: “The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve." We need to seek the most significant triumvirate – The Triune God – and as a nation immediately implement II Chronicles 7:14, “Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and heal their land.”